The New Cambridge Companion to Coleridge

A new collection of essays and commentary provides fresh insights into Coleridge's relevance and explores his innovative thinking on themes such as nature, trauma, gender, and sexuality. It offers a comprehensive entry point into his rich and varied world, making his work accessible to students and general readers alike.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This new collection, designed to reach students and general readers alike, seeks to re-establish the relevance of Coleridge's writings 250 years after his birth. Serving as an essential guide for twenty-first-century readers, it offers fresh perspectives that re-frame his work in relation to slavery, race, war, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ecological crisis. By delving into Coleridge's pioneering poetry in depth, the reader is invited to explore fundamental questions on themes spanning from nature and trauma to gender and sexuality. Essays by renowned Coleridge scholars provide insightful analysis and make his extraordinarily innovative thinking about dreams, psychoanalysis, genius, and symbolism accessible to a broader audience. While Coleridge is known for his direct and captivating style, he is also enigmatic and multifaceted. The Companion's greatest accomplishment lies in offering a comprehensive one-volume entry point into the incomparably rich and diverse world of Coleridge's writings.

Introduction:
Coleridge, a renowned English poet and philosopher, has left an indelible mark on the literary world with his profound and innovative ideas. Despite his historical significance, his works may sometimes be overlooked or misunderstood in the modern era. This new collection aims to rectify that by presenting a comprehensive and accessible guide to Coleridge's writings, encompassing his poetry, essays, and other literary contributions.

Renewed Relevance:
Coleridge's writings continue to resonate with contemporary readers due to their timeless themes and profound insights. His exploration of the human condition, nature, spirituality, and the complexities of the human psyche has a universal appeal that transcends time and cultural boundaries. By re-examining Coleridge's work in the context of modern issues and concerns, this collection seeks to demonstrate his continued relevance and importance.

New Perspectives:
The collection includes fresh perspectives that reframe Coleridge's work in relation to contemporary issues such as slavery, race, war, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ecological crisis. These perspectives offer new insights and interpretations of his writings, helping readers to understand his ideas in a broader and more relevant context.

Essential Guide:
This collection serves as an indispensable guide to Coleridge's writing for twenty-first-century readers. It provides a comprehensive overview of his life, works, and influences, as well as detailed analysis of his major poems, essays, and philosophical ideas. The essays by leading Coleridge scholars offer valuable insights and interpretations, making his work accessible and engaging to a wide range of readers.

Engaging Poetry:
Coleridge's poetry is renowned for its beauty, complexity, and emotional depth. The collection includes selections from his most celebrated works, such as "Kubla Khan," "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," and "The Prelude," allowing readers to experience the power and beauty of his language firsthand.

Philosophical Insights:
Coleridge's philosophical ideas were groundbreaking in his time and continue to inspire contemporary thinkers. The collection includes essays that explore his ideas about dreams, psychoanalysis, genius, and symbolism, providing a deeper understanding of his thought processes and their relevance to modern society.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this new collection of essays and poetry offers a fresh and compelling perspective on Coleridge's writings, demonstrating their continued relevance and importance in the twenty-first century. By exploring his ideas through new lenses and engaging with his extraordinary poetic and philosophical genius, readers are invited to deepen their understanding of Coleridge's legacy and his contribution to the world of literature and philosophy.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108940795